環保人士27日警告，虎皮的非法交易活動，正加速此物種的滅絕。兩環保團體於一份新報導中，讉責印度與中國政府，儘管政府不斷承諾改善，而且有充足證據顯示近年來盜獵與非法交易行為明顯增加，但是對於老虎數量的銳減情形事實上是冷眼旁觀。
在2001年，科學家估計野生老虎僅有5,000到7,500隻，其中有半數在印度，但是大量印度老虎族群因盜獵而亡，現今估計老虎數量僅剩下不到1,200隻。
環境調查協會（EIA）和印度野生物保護協會（WPSI）新的報告指出，因為中國及東南亞對老虎身體部位的需求日增，使得盜獵日益嚴重。雖然中國和印度對非法買賣老虎有嚴格的法律管制及重刑，但這兩個國家都未嚴格執行這些法律。
環境調查協會及印度野生物保護協會祕密調查，揭露了在中國及西藏虎皮和豹皮有熱絡的交易，而這些交易「並未受到中國政府的阻止」。調查小組表示，包括中國的旅客、當地的商人和政府官員的消費者，以整隻老虎或豹皮來裝置家裡或當成高級的禮物，都使賣家願意提供更多的貨品販售。
在中國市場所做的這項調查，記錄了開放且相當容易進行的老虎和豹皮交易，調查員在當地的10天中，遇上11個賣家兜售整隻老虎皮及豹皮，他們甚至還發現一頂用108隻虎皮製成的帳篷。
「這些交易是由高度組織化的犯罪集團所操作，他們投注大量資金以防受阻於零星的查緝和抓拿，」環境調查協會老虎保育行動負責人班克斯說，「如果政府可能有與這非法貿易交戰，他們需要了解這一點，並指揮他們的執行小組早一步採取更聰明的行動。」
調查小組建議在印度和中國設置一個新的執行單位，來協調制裁非法買賣的事宜，以免為時已晚。「執行不是爭議話題或是科學性的辯論，而是一項簡單且必須要做的事，」WPSI主任懷特說。「對老虎來說，時間已經很緊急了。而且我們還在空談，在老虎滅絕前，現在是付諸行動的時候了。」
The illegal trade in tiger skins is rapidly driving the species toward extinction, environmentalists warned on Wednesday. A new report by two environmental groups blames the governments of India and China for doing virtually nothing to halt the alarming decline, despite frequent promises of action and ample evidence the illegal trade has increased dramatically in recent years.
In 2001, scientists estimated that only some 5,000 - 7,500 tigers remained in the wild, with about half found in India. But poaching has decimated the India's tiger population and the current figure could be as low as 1,200.
The rise in poaching has been driven by increased demand for tiger parts in China and Southeast Asia. Although India and China have strict laws and heavy penalties for illegal trade in tiger parts, the two nations are doing little to enforce these laws, finds a new report by the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) and the Wildlife Protection Society of India (WPSI).
Undercover investigations by the two organizations revealed a thriving trade in tiger and leopard skins in China and Tibet. This trade is operating without "any hindrance for from the Chinese government," the groups said, with traders catering to an increased demand for the use of whole tiger and leopard skins as home decor and prestigious gifts. Consumers driving this demand include Chinese tourists, local Chinese businessmen and government officials.
The investigation of the markets in China documented an open and easily accessible trade in tiger and leopard skins. In the space of just ten days, investigators met 11 traders who offered them whole tiger and leopard skins. They even found a tent made of 108 tiger skins.
"This trade is run by highly organized criminal networks who have far too much invested to let a few isolated raids and random seizures deter them," said Debbie Banks, head of EIA's tiger campaign. "If the governments are to stand a chance of combating this illegal trade, they will need to recognize this and direct their enforcement teams to take more proactive, intelligence-led action."
The groups recommend a new enforcement agency be set up in India and China to coordinate efforts to crack down on the trade before it is too late. "Enforcement is not controversial or the subject of scientific debate. It is quite simply essential," said Belinda Wright, director of WPSI . "The clock is ticking for the tiger and there is only so much more talking we can do, the time for action is now, before the last tiger vanishes."
